McLaurin Development Partners cleared the first hurdle to redevelop the former Stateway Gardens site into a housing and retail destination, anchored by a much-needed grocery store.
The Chicago Plan Commission gave initial city approvals to the developer’s $70 million plan on Aug. 20. If approved by the Chicago City Council, the project in Douglas will start construction in early 2027, with completion in mid-2028. The project would create 150 temporary construction jobs and 225 permanent jobs.
McLaurin, whose projects include the forthcoming Englewood Connect and the redevelopment of the former Michael Reese Hospital site, wants to complete the project in two phases.
The first phase would include the retail portion, anchored by a 70,000-square-foot Pete’s Market. Plans for the site, south of Pershing Road and abutting the Dan Ryan Expressway, call for a medical office for outpatient care, hardware store, restaurant, bank and other uses. It will have 378 parking spaces, with many of them in front of the grocer. McLaurin will also add landscaping at the corners of Pershing and State streets to soften the appearance of the retail center, along with trees between the project site and the Dan Ryan.
The second phase, north of Pershing Road, would include up to 551 apartments, according to plans submitted to the City Council. McLaurin will price 20% of the units in phase two as affordable, under the city’s Affordable Requirements Ordinance.
Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) said on Facebook that there’s a letter of intent for the Chicago-based Pete’s Market to occupy the project.
McLaurin didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Pete’s started in the South Side during the 1970s as a small full-service produce stand. Its fruit and vegetables continue to be hand-picked and delivered daily, according to Pete’s website. Each store has a full-service kitchen, bakery and deli.
Pete’s has locations across Chicago and its suburbs, with many on the South and West sides.
Its Douglas location will be a welcome addition to the neighborhood, if approved. And it would come at a time when grocers across the South and West sides like Save A Lot have shuttered in recent years, leaving predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods without a nearby grocery store.
Stateway Gardens was a public housing development along the Dan Ryan, north of Robert Taylor Homes. It was built by the Chicago Housing Authority between 1955 and 1958.
Demolition of the mid- and high-rise buildings started in 2001 and was completed in 2007, as part of the CHA’s Plan for Transformation that pledged to tear down and rebuild tens of thousands of CHA-subsidized units at developments with affordable and market rate apartments.